Tangerang to claim back Cipondoh lake
Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang
Located in the center of the quickly growing Tangerang municipality, the once beautiful Lake Cipondoh now looks like an abandoned swamp, ringed by shanties and shacks.
In five years, illegal reclamation and occupation of the lake's banks have narrowed Cipondoh from 170 hectares to 126 hectares.
Hidden among semi-permanent buildings and shanties, an announcement board states that the lake belongs to West Java province and that it is managed by developer PT Grya Tri Tunggal Paksi.
However, this claim of ownership is being disputed by Tangerang municipality, which was part of West Java until being merged into the newly formed Banten province in 2000.
"What has the West Java administration done to conserve the lake? To us, the local residents, it seems that they only want to conserve the water hyacinths," Chandra Eka told The Jakarta Post, referring to the clumps of wild plants covering the lake surface.
Another resident, Budi Sabarudin, who often goes fishing with friends at the lake, said there was a time when large numbers of fishermen were drawn Cipondoh.
"But the lake has long been neglected ... it has lost its beauty," he said.
Tangerang Mayor Wahidin Halim said Lake Cipondoh, by law, belonged to the municipality.
"According to Law No. 23/2000 on the formation of Banten province, the West Java administration was required to transfer control of all assets in Banten, including Lake Cipondoh, one year after the province was formed," he told the Post during a recent interview.
However, the West Java administration previously appointed PT Grya to manage the lake for 30 years. The developer was appointed on the understanding that it would convert the lake into a recreational area, while maintaining its function as a water catchment area.
"Look at the condition of the lake. We have to save it. We are now preparing legal measures to settle the lake's ownership status," Wahidin said, adding that he had asked the Banten provincial council to take part in the legal battle.
Members of the provincial council have summoned PT Grya to explain the sorry state of the lake.
"Moreover, we heard the company reportedly put up the lake as collateral for a Rp 150 billion loan," said Zaenal Abidin Sujai, chairman of the council's Commission A for development.
Banten Governor Djoko Munandar said his office had begun exploring options for taking over control of Lake Cipondoh from the West Java administration and handing the lake over to the Tangerang municipality.
"We plan to build an Islamic boarding school near the lake ... we will find a way to get it back," he said.